How to Fix Grayed Out Folders or Files on Mac

When folders or files appear greyed out on a Mac, they can't be opened or accessed. To resolve this issue, you can use Terminal on Mac. Follow the steps provided on this page, which will help you effectively fix the greyed out folders and files issue on your Mac.

Why my folders and files greyed out on Mac?

You transferred files from an old external hard drive to your Mac, but they're now grayed out and inaccessible, with an error message saying they were created on January 24, 1984. This is likely a date error, not an actual creation date. To fix this without losing data, you can try using a data recovery software like Disk Drill or Deep Data Recovery Wizard, or by using the "Get Info" command in Finder to reset the creation date. You can also try using the "touch" command in Terminal to update the file timestamps. If none of these methods work, you can try using a third-party tool like iBoysoft Data Recovery to recover your files. It's always a good idea to back up your data regularly to prevent such issues in the future.

Mac folders or files may appear greyed out and inaccessible due to various reasons such as file system errors, hard drive formatting issues, or interruptions during file copying. This can occur due to factors like power failures, Mac OS crashes, or other system-related problems. As a result, the files or folders become inaccessible and appear greyed out, preventing users from opening them.

How to Fix Mac Folders Grayed out in Terminal

Changing the date of the folder or file is a feasible way to fix greyed out folders on a Mac. This can be done using XCode, which can be downloaded from the App Store.  

Step 1. Open Finder and find the grayed out folder or file that shows 24 January 1984 error.

Step 2. Go to Applications and open the Terminal app.

Step 3. Type SetFile -d 11/09/2016 /Path/to/grayed-out-folder/ and tap on return.

By running the command, the date of your grayed out files or folders will change to a specific date, such as 11/09/2016, and they will no longer be grayed out. You can set the time to any day you wish. This allows you to view or access the previously inaccessible files or folders.

If you're experiencing issues with your photos being half grayed out, there are a few potential causes and solutions to consider. One possible reason is that the image is being compressed or saved in a format that's not suitable for the intended use.

How to Recover Folders/Files with Free Mac Data Recovery Tool 

If you've successfully resolved the grayed out folders issue, great job! However, if the problem persists and is related to Mac hard drive formatting, operation errors, or system failure, you can try recovering the greyed out folders or files using free data recovery software for Mac.

Deep Data Recovery for Mac is a free tool that enables you to recover lost or deleted files, photos, audio, music, and emails from your Mac hard drive safely and effectively. It supports data recovery from various sources, including the Mac trash bin, hard drive, memory card, flash drive, digital camera, and camcorders, due to reasons such as deletion, formatting, lost partition, virus attack, and system crash.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Run Deep Data Recovery. Select file types and click "Next" to start the recovery process.

Step 2. Select the disk location where you lost data and files, then click the "Scan" button to begin the recovery process.

Step 3. Deep Data Recovery for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.

Step 4. In the scan results, select the file(s) and click the "Recover" button to have them back.

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